School children in Northern Ireland could face disruption from two strikes this month
Strike action by Unite the Union is scheduled to take place from Tuesday 26 April to Sunday 1 May and Tuesday 3 May to Sunday 8 May. EA home to school transport (yellow bus) services are expected to be impacted, as well as some school meal services and the availability of some non-teaching staff, particularly in Special Schools.
The EA’s statement said: “This strike action is in relation to a national pay offer for Local Government staff working in England, Wales and Northern Ireland which has been accepted by the majority of Trade Unions and is in the process of being paid to staff. Therefore, Local Government organisations, including EA, do not have the power or authority to renegotiate this for Northern Ireland.”
Translink bus drivers who are members of GMB and Unite have also voted to take strike action in relation to a pay offer from Translink. If the strike goes ahead, all Translink bus services will be withdrawn from Monday 25 Spril to Sunday 1 May and on Friday 6 May. Translink are continuing to negotiate with the Trade Unions to seek a resolution.
The EA is working with schools to minimise disruption for children, including requesting exemptions for Special School staff, and for transport staff transporting pupils to Special Schools. It says these requests “have not been accepted to date”.
Clare Duffield, EA Director of Human Resources and Corporate Services, said: “We remain very concerned about the disproportionate impact both sets of industrial action will have on pupils, schools and families and we will continue to do all we can to minimise disruption as far as possible.
“We would call on Unite to work with us to agree exemptions to minimise the impact on the most vulnerable pupils, including those attending Special Schools.”
Parents have been advised to organise alternative arrangements for their children’s school travel. The EA advises if a school journey involves connecting from an EA bus to a Translink bus, that alternative arrangements for the whole journey should be made.
EA and Translink websites and social media will provide regular updates.
